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In his teaching and his writing, Paul L. Holmer (1916-2004),
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota (1946-1960)
and Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale
Divinity School (1960-1987), made many important contributions to
recent American theology. One of the most insightful American
students of Kierkegaard of his generation, Holmer perceived early
on Wittgenstein's importance for theology, and employed both
thinkers to inspire his own fresh consideration of perennial issues
in philosophical theology: understanding, belief, faith, the
emotions, and the importance of the virtues. While best known for
his essays in 'The Grammar of Faith' (1978), Holmer penned numerous
other interesting and original essays, some published but many
unpublished, which circulated widely in typescript during his
tenure at Yale. Following his death, the Holmer family in 2005
donated his papers to the Yale Divinity School Library; in
reviewing Holmer's papers, the editors have chosen a selection of
his most seminal essays, beyond those in The Grammar of Faith,
demonstrating the breadth and range of his contributions. In this,
the second volume of The Paul L. Holmer Papers, the editors present
pieces that illuminate four significant areas of Holmer's
contributions: essays on Kierkegaard; essays on Wittgenstein;
Theology, Understanding, and Faith; and Emotions, Passions, and
Virtues. Taken together, these essays invite in-depth exploration
of the thought of this important American philosophical theologian.
This is the second volume of The Paul L. Holmer Papers, which
includes also volume 1, 'On Kierkegaard and the Truth', and volume
3, 'Communicating the Faith Indirectly: Selected Sermons,
Addresses, and Prayers'.
Making innovative use of Kierkegaard's religious and philosophical works, David Gouwens explores his religious and theological thought, focusing on human nature, Christ, and Christian discipleship. He discusses Kierkegaard's main concerns as a religious thinker, and his treatment of "becoming Christian," and counters the customary interpretation of his religious thought as privatistic and asocial. Kierkegaard's ideas are seen to anticipate the end of "modernity," while standing at the center of the Christian tradition.
In his teaching and his writing, Paul L. Holmer (1916-2004),
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota (1946-1960)
and Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale
Divinity School (1960-1987), not only made important contributions
to recent American theology, but was also much in demand as a
public speaker and preacher. Following his death, the Holmer family
in 2005 donated his papers to the Yale Divinity School Library. In
this, the third volume of The Paul L. Holmer Papers: 'Communicating
the Faith Indirectly', the reader will see Holmer's deep concern
with the problems and possibilities of the sermon, liturgy,
ministry, and spirituality. Inspired by Soren Kierkegaard's
reflections on "indirect communication", and by Ludwig
Wittgenstein, Holmer not only reveals his strenuous reflection on
the sermon, but also gives concrete examples of his own efforts to
communicate, enabling his hearers and readers to "make sense" of
their lives. In the first part of this volume, Holmer reflects upon
Kierkegaard's "indirect communication", a communication not of
knowledge but of human capacity. In other pieces Holmer turns to
liturgy, ministry, and spirituality. In the second part of this
volume, the reader sees Holmer's own challenging, uncompromising
practice of religious and Christian communication, in a selection
of his sermons, addresses, and prayers. For anyone concerned with
sermons, liturgy, spirituality, and the challenges of ministry,
Holmer's essays and addresses will prove indispensable. This is the
third volume of The Paul L. Holmer Papers, which includes also
volume 1, 'On Kierkegaard and the Truth', and volume 2, 'Thinking
the Faith with Passion: Selected Essays'.
Paul L. Holmer (1916-2004) was one of the most significant American
students of Kierkegaard of his generation. Although written in the
1950s and 1960s, Holmer's theological and philosophical engagement
with Kierkegaard challenges much contemporary scholarly discussion.
Unlike many, Holmer refuses reductionist readings that tie
Kierkegaard to any particular "school." He likewise criticizes
biographical readings of Kierkegaard, much in vogue recently,
seeing Kierkegaard rather as an indirect communicator aiming at his
reader's own ethical and religious capacities. Holmer also rejects
popular existentialist readings of Kierkegaard, seeing him as an
analyzer of concepts, while at the same time denying that he is a
"crypto-analyst." In his important reading of Kierkegaard on
"truth," Holmer pits Kierkegaard against those who see "truth"
empirically, idealistically, or relativistically. His carefully
textured account of Kierkegaard's conceptual grammar of "truth" in
ethical and religious contexts addresses immediately current
discussions of truth, meaning, reference, and realism versus
antirealism, relativism, and hermeneutics. It will be of great
interest to all interested in Kierkegaard and his importance for
contemporary theology and philosophy.
This companion explores Soren Kierkegaard's theological importance,
offering a comprehensive reading of his work through a distinctly
theological lens, including interpretative concerns, his approach
to specific doctrines, and theological trajectories for thinking
beyond his work. Beginning with essays on key interpretative
factors involved in approaching Kierkegaard's complex corpus, there
are also historical accounts of his theological development,
followed by - for the first time in a single volume - focused
expositions of Kierkegaard's approach to particular doctrinal
themes, from those oft-discussed in his work (e.g. Christology) to
those more understated (e.g. Pneumatology). The book concludes with
theological trajectories for Kierkegaard's thought in the
twenty-first century. This volume helps not only to situate
Kierkegaard's theology more firmly on the map, but to situate
Kierkegaard more firmly on the theological map, as one who has much
to offer both the form and content of the theological task.
Using Kierkegaard's later religious writings as well as his earlier
philosophical works, David Gouwens explores this philosopher's
religious and theological thought, focusing on human nature,
Christ, and Christian discipleship. He helps the reader approach
Kierkegaard as someone who both analysed religion and sought to
evoke religious dispositions in his readers. Gouwens discusses
Kierkegaard's main concerns as a religious and, specifically,
Christian thinker, and his treatment of religion using the
dialectic of 'becoming Christian', and counters the interpretation
of his religious thought as privatistic and asocial. Gouwens
appraises both the edifying discourses and the pseudonymous
writings, including the particular problems posed by the latter.
Between foundationalism and irrationalism, Kierkegaard's ideas are
seen to anticipate the end of 'modernity', while standing at the
centre of the Christian tradition.
About the Contributor(s): Warner M. Bailey is the Director of
Presbyterian Studies at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian
University. He writes on the impact of biblical studies on the life
of the church.
Synopsis: Volume 3 The Paul L. Holmer Papers: Selected Sermons,
Addresses, and Prayers In his teaching and his writing, Paul L.
Holmer (1916-2004), Professor of Philosophy at the University of
Minnesota (1946-1960) and Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical
Theology at Yale Divinity School (1960-1987), not only made
important contributions to recent American theology, but was also
much in demand as a public speaker and preacher. Following his
death, the Holmer family in 2005 donated his papers to the Yale
Divinity School Library. In this, the third volume of The Paul L.
Holmer Papers: Communicating the Faith Indirectly, the reader will
see Holmer's deep concern with the problems and possibilities of
the sermon, liturgy, ministry, and spirituality. Inspired by Soren
Kierkegaard's reflections on "indirect communication," and by
Ludwig Wittgenstein, Holmer not only reveals his strenuous
reflection on the sermon, but also gives concrete examples of his
own efforts to communicate, enabling his hearers and readers to
"make sense" of their lives. In the first part of this volume,
Holmer reflects upon Kierkegaard's "indirect communication," a
communication not of knowledge but of human capacity. In other
pieces Holmer turns to liturgy, ministry, and spirituality. In the
second part of this volume, the reader sees Holmer's own
challenging, uncompromising practice of religious and Christian
communication, in a selection of his sermons, addresses, and
prayers. For anyone concerned with sermons, liturgy, spirituality,
and the challenges of ministry, Holmer's essays and addresses will
prove indispensable. This is the third volume of The Paul L. Holmer
Papers, which includes also volume 1, On Kierkegaard and the Truth,
and volume 2, Thinking the Faith with Passion: Selected Essays.
Endorsements: "This volume is such a gift to those of us who loved
Paul Holmer and were shaped by his thought. It is a thrill to hear
his distinctive voice again in these pages. This book may be an
even greater gift to those who have never read or heard Holmer. Now
you will get to see what all the fuss is about. Be forewarned,
however: do not open this book casually. You might be forever
changed as well." --Martin B. Copenhaver, Wellesley Congregational
Church "Paul Holmer took up Kierkegaard's emphasis on the
decisiveness of the 'how' over the 'what, ' inviting the
indirection so rightly registered in the book's title. A central
expression of 'how' is insistence upon compassion as chaperone,
guardian, and custodian of learning." --David Cain, University of
Mary Washington "Holmer is both philosopher and theologian,
providing sage advice for anyone who loves the church. The sermons,
most of which are appropriately based on some letter of St. Paul,
advise the church on a variety of pitfalls on the path of the
Christian life, urging steadfastness against worldliness, reminding
us of the power of the consciousness of immortality, and making
clear the place of thought in the Christian life." --Ronald E.
Hustwit Sr., The College of Wooster Author Biography: David J.
Gouwens is Professor of Theology at Brite Divinity School. He is
the author of Kierkegaard's Dialectic of the Imagination (1989) and
Kierkegaard as Religious Thinker (1996). Lee C. Barrett is Stager
Professor of Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is the
author of The Heidelberg Catechism (2007), Foundations of Modern
Theology: Kierkegaard (2009), and co-editor of Kierkegaard and the
Bible (2010).
Synopsis: In his teaching and his writing, Paul L. Holmer
(1916-2004), Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota
(1946-1960) and Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology at
Yale Divinity School (1960-1987), made many important contributions
to recent American theology. One of the most insightful American
students of Kierkegaard of his generation, Holmer perceived early
on Wittgenstein's importance for theology, and employed both
thinkers to inspire his own fresh consideration of perennial issues
in philosophical theology: understanding, belief, faith, the
emotions, and the importance of the virtues. While best known for
his essays in The Grammar of Faith (1978), Holmer penned numerous
other interesting and original essays, some published but many
unpublished, which circulated widely in typescript during his
tenure at Yale. Following his death, the Holmer family in 2005
donated his papers to the Yale Divinity School Library; in
reviewing Holmer's papers, the editors have chosen a selection of
his most seminal essays, beyond those in The Grammar of Faith,
demonstrating the breadth and range of his contributions. In this,
the second volume of The Paul L. Holmer Papers, the editors present
pieces that illuminate four significant areas of Holmer's
contributions: essays on Kierkegaard; essays on Wittgenstein;
Theology, Understanding, and Faith; and Emotions, Passions, and
Virtues. Taken together, these essays invite in-depth exploration
of the thought of this important American philosophical theologian.
This is the second volume of The Paul L. Holmer Papers, which
includes also volume 1, On Kierkegaard and Truth: Selected Essays,
and volume 3, Communicating the Faith Indirectly: Selected Sermons,
Addresses, and Prayers. Endorsement: "Disciplined by a careful,
undogmatic appropriation of Wittgenstein's later achievements, Paul
Holmer may just be the best balanced and most plainspoken expositor
of Kierkegaard's ethical-religious thought in the English language
to date. Holmer was an outstanding teacher, and this collection is
a treasure for those privileged to hear his lectures and for those
who did not." -Robert L. Perkins Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
Stetson University, DeLand, Florida "This collection of previously
published and unpublished essays by Paul L. Holmer on a wide range
of topics demonstrates his incisive thought and writing on some of
the perplexing 'knots of understanding' in philosophy and theology,
which he sought to untie with exceptional acuity and conceptual
clarity by way of Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, and his own pioneering
efforts in the rehabilitation of virtue ethics in our time."
-Sylvia Walsh Scholar in Residence Stetson University Editor
Biography: David J. Gouwens is Professor of Theology at Brite
Divinity School. He is the author of Kierkegaard's Dialectic of the
Imagination (1989) and Kierkegaard as Religious Thinker (1996). Lee
C. Barrett III is Stager Professor of Theology at Lancaster
Theological Seminary. He is the author of The Heidelberg Catechism
(2007), Foundations of Modern Theology: Kierkegaard (2009), and
co-editor of Kierkegaard and the Bible (2010).
Synopsis: Paul L. Holmer (1916-2004) was Professor of Philosophy at
the University of Minnesota (1946-1960) and Noah Porter Professor
of Philosophical Theology at Yale Divinity School (1960-1987).
Among his many acomplishments, Holmer was one of the most
significant American students of Kierkegaard of his generation.
Although written in the 1950s and 1960s, Holmer's theological and
philosophical engagement with Kierkegaard challenges much in the
contemporary scholarly discussions of this important thinker.
Unlike many, Holmer refuses reductionist readings that tie
Kierkegaard to any particular "school." He likewise criticizes
biographical readings of Kierkegaard, much in vogue recently,
seeing Kierkegaard rather as an indirect communicator aiming at his
reader's own ethical and religious capacities. Holmer also rejects
popular existentialist readings of Kierkegaard, seeing him as an
analyzer of concepts, while at the same time denying that he is a
"crypto-analyst." Holmer criticizes the attempt to construe
Kierkegaard as a didactic religious thinker, appreciating
Kierkegaard's "cool" descriptive objectivity and his ironic and
stylistic virtuosity. In his important reading of Kierkegaard on
"truth," Holmer pits Kierkegaard against those who see "truth"
empirically, idealistically, or relativistically. Holmer's
carefully textured account of Kierkegaard's conceptual grammar of
"truth" in ethical and religious contexts, fifty years after it was
penned, addresses immediately current discussions of truth,
meaning, reference, and realism versus antirealism, relativism, and
hermeneutics. It will be of great interest to all interested in
Kierkegaard and his importance for contemporary theology and
philosophy. This is the first volume of The Paul L. Holmer Papers,
which includes also volume 2, Thinking the Faith with Passion:
Selected Essays, and volume 3, Communicating the Faith Indirectly:
Selected Sermons, Addresses, and Prayers. Endorsements: "Paul L.
Holmer was and is still a largely unheralded Kierkegaard scholar
and analytic philosopher. This volume and the collected works
series it introduces should do a lot to correct that oversight in
both fields. We owe the editors, both of whom were Holmer's
students, a great deal of thanks for their labor of love." -Robert
L. Perkins Stetson University "Paul Holmer was one of the most
interesting and original religious thinkers in
mid-twentieth-century America, yet he is little known today. So
enter back slash through O]ren Kierkegaard was his central
scholarly interest and his unusual and provocative reading of
Kierkegaard is important." -David Kelsey Yale Divinity School
"Professor Paul L. Holmer was the doyen of Kierkegaard studies for
much of the later part of the twentieth century. His jargon-free
writings are crisp, clear, epiphanic, and always in earnest . . ."
-Gordon Marino St. Olaf College Editor Biographies: David J.
Gouwens is Professor of Theology at Brite Divinity School. He is
the author of Kierkegaard's Dialectic of the Imagination (1989) and
Kierkegaard as Religious Thinker (1996). Lee C. Barrett III is
Stager Professor of Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He
is the author of The Heidelberg Catechism (2007), Foundations of
Modern Theology: Kierkegaard (2009), and co-editor of Kierkegaard
and the Bible (2010).
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